Portable propelling device for boats.



Patented ocrz's, |902. l. n. MILLER.

PORTABLE PHOPELLINGA DEVICE FOB. BOATS.

(Application med sept. 2o, m01.)

- (No Model.)

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

IRVIN R. MILLER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

PORTABLEPROPELLING DEVICE FOR BOATS.

SPECIFICATION fOIming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 712,081, dated. October 28, 1902.

Application Sled September 20,1901. Serial-No. 75,789. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVIN R. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Propelling Devices for Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide anvimproved detachable motor for propelling row-boats; and to this end it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claim.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a view in elevation showing a row-boat having my improved detachable motor applied to the stern end thereof, parts of the motor-case being broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevationv of the parts shown in Fig. l, parts of the boat and of the motorcase being broken away; and Fig. 3 is a detail in horizontal section taken 0n the line co3 w3 of Fig. l.

The nu meral l indicates the row-boat, which is of ordinary construction, provided at its stern end with the skeg 2 and stern-board 3.

In accordance with my invention I mount the motor in a shell or case which follows approximately the outline of the stern of the boat and is adapted to be partially submerged in the water. This case at its lower portion is water-tight, so that it is given considerable buoyancy. This feature is important, as the increased buoyancy given to the stern end of the boat assists in holding up the stern end of the boat regardless of the added weight of the motor. At its top this case is shown as provided with a hinged cover ot', which may be readily raised to aord access to the interior of the case.

For detachably and adjustably securing the case a to the stern of the boat it is provided with a pair of laterally-spaced and verticallyadjustable hangers b, which work in channellike keepers b' on the interior of the case ct. Set-screws b2, which work through the hangers or brackets b and im pinge on the backs of the keepers b', serve to hold said hangers in the desired set adjustments. The upper ends of the hangers b are bent forward and then downward, so as to afford hooks, which are adapted to be engaged over the upper edge of the sternboard 3, as best shown in Fig. 2. Set-screws c, preferably having knurled heads, work through the depending hooked ends of said hangers b and when screwed into or against the said board securely anchor the said hangers thereto.

At its lower forward portion the motor-case a is provided with laterally-spaced ears d, which are adapted to embrace the adjacent portion of the skeg 2. Set-screws d', preferably having knurled heads, work through the ears d and impinge against the skeg 2 to securely anchor the lower portion of the case a to the boat. Thus the case a is detachably secured to the stern of the boat and is adapted to be vertically adjusted so as to bring the propeller, presently to be noted, to the proper depth in the water.

I employ a gasolene or explosive engine for producing the motive power, and the parts thereof are mounted Within the case a. This explosive-engine may take various forms, and for the purposes of this case the parts thereof may be briefly noted.

f indicates the cylinder,andf the piston,of the engine, the former of which is rigidly secured to the front plate of the case a.

f2 indicates the propeller-shaft, which is suitably mounted in bearings f3 and f4 of the case a and is provided at its rear outer end with an ordinary reversible propeller f5.

f6 indicates a spur-pinion on the propellershaft f2, and f7 indicates an intermeshing spur-gear loosely mounted on the bearing f4. The piston f is connected to a crank-pin f9 on the gear f7 by means of a pitman or rodf's. The crank-pin f9 projects so as to afford a handpiece by means of which the engine may be started.

g indicates an ordinary propeller-reversing lever which, as shown, projects upward above the top of the caseaand Works through a suitable passage (not shown) in the lid a.

K indicates the oil-tank.

m indicates the battery of the igniter.

n indicates the exhaust-pipe from the engine, and p indicates the oil-supply pipe to the engine, all of which parts are Within the case a and are of the ordinary construction.

Other details of the engine, Which may be of any suitable construction, are not herein illustrated, nor is it necessary for the purposes of this case.

I believe I am the first to provide a detachable device involving an explosive-engine adapted for propelling row-boats when applied to the stern thereof, and I also believe that I am the first to provide in connection with a motor of any kind a hollow air-containing motor-case which when submerged or partially submerged adds buoyancy to the stern end of the boat, and thus serves to support or partially support the Weight of the motor and propelling devices.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

The combination with an engine or motor and a support for the same, of a clamping device for securing said support to the Stern of the boat which clamping device is vertically adjustable With respect to said support, and a propeller having its shaft mounted in said support and driven from said engine or motor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

IRVIN R. MILLER.

Witnesses:

E. H. KELIHER, F. I). MERCHANT. 

